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Frontale & Reysol open ACL with losses

The 2018 AFC Champions League Group Stage opened in the East Zone on Tuesday night with both Kawasaki Frontale and Kashiwa Reysol in action starting their campaigns with losses.

At Todoroki Stadium, Frontale fell behind in the 23rd minute against Shanghai SIPG when Brazilian attacker Elkeson scored the opening goal. The J.League champions were unable to mount a comeback despite the introduction of attackers Hiroyuki Abe and Tatsuya Hasegawa in the second half.

Playing away at Jeonbuk Hyundai, Reysol went into half-time with a 2-0 lead thanks to first half goals by Ramon Lopes and Ataru Esaka in the 10th and 27th minutes.

But the K League hosts turned out to be the victors thanks to a spirited second half comeback that featured a Lee Dong-gook brace, including the dramatic game-winner, as well as the equalizer by former Albirex Niigata defender Kim Jin-su.

The first round of the group stage will continue on Wednesday night with Kashima Antlers hosting Shanghai Greenland Shenhua and Cerezo Osaka traveling to face Jeju United.